Courage Bowl!

So it is common knowledge that everyone who comes to the University of Rochester to be a student comes for the academics and is very smart. It’s what gives the school such high credentials. However, although academics are a big deal, our students also take part in tons of activities, including athletics. We are division 3 for most of our sports. Our squash team is division 1, though! And we have a ton of club and intramural sports. It is really great because no matter what your athletic skill level is, you can find something for you and have fun doing it.

Even though sports aren’t the main thing we are about, they still are a pretty big deal among many students. And of course, football falls in that category. Our football team travels to other colleges and fields, but since the University of Rochester has its own really nice field, they have a lot of games here as well. It is convenient for us students who can just walk five minutes and watch the game. Everyone should at one point. Even if you don’t love sports, watching them with friends is always a good time.

The football team every year plays one special game against the same school for the same cause. St. John Fisher college is another school in the Rochester area, and that is who we play. This year, it was in another field in Rochester, where the Rochester Rhinos (a soccer team) play.

This game is called the Courage Bowl, and it is a huge fundraising event for Camp Good Days. There are a ton of sponsors who have raffles, and alumni from both schools come to watch. It gets pretty busy. Camp Good Days gives children who have been diagnosed with cancer a great opportunity at these games that would not be allowed at a normal football game. The organization picks honorary coaches and cheerleaders each year, who are children who have been diagnosed with cancer. They are split between the University of Rochester Yellowjackets and the St. John Fisher Cardinals. Both cheerleading teams work with the honorary cheerleaders and have them  participate in their cheers and stunts. You can see the honorary coaches running on the sidelines with the other players and coaches. It is a great opportunity and the kids love it, as any person in the stands could tell who could see them. It is still a real game, though. Unfortunately, the Yellowjackets lost to the Cardinals 52-3, but it was a good game to watch, and everyone had fun.

It was for a great cause too, and I plan on attending every year. So if you missed it, make sure you come out next year. There is a ton of school spirit, and it is a a lot of fun to support your school’s varsity athletics!